HospitalInspections.org

Based on record review and interview, the hospital failed to ensure:

1. Infection surveillance policy was followed for one (Patient #3) of ten patients.
2. EVS Room Cleaning Protocol was followed for any patients in droplet/contact precautions.
This failed practice has the likelihood to place patients, staff, and the community at large at risk of exposure to an infectious agent.

Infection Surveillance

Review of a policy titled "Identification and Management of COVID-19 Patients" documented symptomatic individuals at higher risk for poor outcomes, including those who were 65 or older, were to have a nasopharyngeal swab collected for COVID-19.

Review of the medical record for Patient #3 showed the patient was 65 or older; presented to the hospital on 07/29/20 with a cough; and no nasopharyngeal swab for COVID-19 was collected.

On 08/19/20 at 2:15 PM, Staff C reviewed the medical record for Patient #3 and the Identification and Management of COVID-19 Patients policy and stated the patient should have been tested for Covid-19.


EVS Protocol

Review of a policy "COVID - EVS Room Cleaning Protocol" documented a down time of one hour prior to cleaning an inpatient room following discharge of a patient who had been in airborne respirator/contact precautions.

On 08/19/20 at 11:30 AM, Staff H stated the facility's process was to clean rooms upon notification of patient discharge and there was no wait time before cleaning a room previously occupied by a COVID-19 postive patient.

On 08/19/20 at 2:49 PM, Staff D stated COVID-19 positive patients were put on airborne precautions.